Triscribe

December is the perfect storm. Partially because of my November travels and partially because I have several unexpected expenses totalling a few thousand dollars, this month’s budget is extremely tight, as in it’s going to be instant noodles and microwave burritos until at least the 24th. Thankfully my college friends have Christmas on the Saturday after Christmas. Much elsewise in the way of worries, but I’m not going to get into it here. I’ve received a lot of love and affection, though, for which I am grateful.

Not to mention Verizon sent my DSL bill for collection when it was actually paid. As soon as Time Warner gets phone service operational, I’m switching.

Happy B-day last week to SSL!

The latest Sprint commercials are interesting. Actually, what I’ve really loved is the crossover Sprint commercial with the Pillsbury Doughboy. Sprint Guy (the man in the trench coat with the mission to educate customers on the values of Sprint) is at a family dinner table listening to the woes of a family who should have used Sprint. The wife’s upset; Husband was supposed to pick up her uncle at the airport. Pillsbury Doughboy is walking sadly on their table; Husband says, “You said he’s short and wears a hat.” Husband apparently had picked up the Doughboy by mistake. (Query: why did Doughboy even go into the stranger’s car from the airport? Maybe Husband picked him up and there was no way for Doughboy to get out of the car.)

Wife says, “‘Uncle Pillsbury Doughboy?!” Doughboy, being a nice guy, waves to the little kid; little kid looks like she’s pretty sure she has no Uncle Doughboy. Sprint Guy then introduces the family to a camera cell phone, so that Husband will be able to identify the uncle appropriately. Sprint Guy then says to Doughboy, “Do you mind?” Doughboy sighs and says, “Everyone does it.” Sprint Guy pokes Doughboy’s tummy and Doughboy, of course, giggles. Great commercial. Stays on message (“yes, go get Sprint” and avoid picking up the Doughboy at the airport”) and is very entertaining.

The fraternity/sorority commercials aren’t so bad either (the ones where Sprint Guys tells the college kids about the new plan where Sprint counts evening from 7pm on and the kids are REALLY happy, shrieking at the top of their lungs at 7pm). But, those ads do seem a little on the dumb side (what do we expect, they’re just the kids of the Greek system, so they’re apt to react in a certain manner, even if they’re not that intellectually challenged).

Click here to view the commercials on-line…

So it’s still snowing. The meterologists must be enjoying themselves. All news, all the time. Channel 4 (NBC) seems to have sent all the reporters outside, braving the storm. One was smart enough to go into the airport to make his interviews, and he got a good-nature ribbing by the anchormen. One reporter at Paramus Mall, outside; she conceded that she snuck in between on-air moments to buy some sweaters. That people are out in the malls seem just a little crazy; it is a little dangerous there. But, there are only two weekends left before Xmas and when you’ve got nothing else to do at home, well, you could go out there, if you’re that foolhardy. At least in NYC we can still use subways to get around and so it’s not that bad.

Last night’s “Joan of Arcadia” was quite good – the angst of Joan’s wheelchair-using brother is momentarily abated and so is Joan’s angst (sort of; God’s still pushing her to do things that are good for her and that cause that chain reaction of miracles that this series specializes in; in this episode, Joan gets her driver’s license). Joan’s dad, the police chief, finds that he’s questioned about being a good person, not just a good cop; it doesn’t get easier when the chief is a victim. Joan’s other brother Luke learns that coffee may make your brain smarter, but you start coming up with real weird ideas.

Stay warm.